Basic Machinima in Second Life

1 - Download and install the free version of Fraps on your computer. Also, download Audacity. If you are using PortableApps, feel free to use the version of Audacity found there. If you have not used Audacity before you will need to configure the mp3 LAME encoder.

2 - Configure Audacity, Fraps and Second Life as mentioned in class, then, using a microphone headset, verify Audacity is working. Teleport to MNSCU Island in Second Life and talk through the area you wish to film before filming. When ready, start recording in Audacity, then start recording your screen in Second Life. Since you are using the free version, you will only be able to record 30 seconds of video per shot, so plan accordingly. Narrate a brief 30 second tour of part of MNSCU Island. Export the audio file in Audacity at voice1.mp3 and save to the Desktop. Fraps should have been configured to save the AVI file to the Desktop as well.

3 - Open Windows Movie Maker and import the AVI file from Fraps and the mp3 file from Audacity. Synchronize them as demonstrated in class. Add a 10 second title at the beginning of the clip. Use one of the “Title, Two Line” formats, putting “Second Life Demo” on the first line and “by REAL NAME and AVATAR NAME” on the second line. Next add a 20 second credit roll at the end of the film using the “Credits: Scrolled Up & Stacked” format. Include information discussed in class here. Render the result as a wmv file and name the file SL_YOURNAME.wmv. The entire movie should be 60 seconds long.

4 - Students may either turn in the wmv file in class on a USB drive or optionally, for extra credit, upload the wmv file to YouTube and send the YouTube URL to the instructors email account. Put “Handout #8 Homework” in the email subject line.

Advanced Machinima in Second Life

5 - Login to second life and go to a place where you have build permissions.

6 - Create a cube with dimensions X=10m, Y=0.01m and Z=10.0m. Set the Texture to Blank and the Color to Green (the rgb values will be 0, 255, 0) Select the Full Bright checkbox. This is your backdrop wall.

7 - Create a copy of the cube, then set the X rotation of the copy to 90 degrees. Position the copy at the botom of the background wall as demonstratated in class. This is your backdrop floor.

8 - Have your avatar stand on the backdrop floor with his/her back to the backdrop wall. Use your Ctrl+Alt Mouse movements to view your avatars face with the green screen behind him. Have your avatar take up about a third of the screen.

9 - Open up My Inventory -> Gestures and find a gesture you like. Select Open for the Gesture and make sure the Active box is clicked. Set the Shortcut key to Ctrl + F2, then Preview and Save the Gesture. Repeat this procedure for 3 more gestures, using Ctrl + F3, F4 and F5 for the Gestures.

10 - Start Fraps, then set your Window size to 640 x 480. Turn off all menus, then begin filming in Fraps. Make sure you cursor is on the Second Life Titlebar and not on the main part of the screen. Press Ctrl + F2 to execute your first gesture, wait a few seconds then do the same for gestures 2, 3 and 4. Quit capturing with Fraps, then stop Second Life. View the resulting Second Life Avi file.

11 - Download and install Wax 2.0 if you haven't already. Also search google images for a 4x3 photo of a famous landmark in the real world. Save the image as landmark1.jpg.

12 - Start Wax and select Project -> Add Media Files. Select the AVI you generated in Step 6, then drap the film icon down to the first track. Select Project -> Add Media Files again and select landmark1.jpg. Drap this down to the second track, then drap the right edge to the right so that it is as long as the avi clip.

13 - In Wax, select Video Plugins, then drag ChromaKey to the first track. Expnd the chromakey button, then click the eyedropper tool. Clip any part of the green screen in the preview window. The landmark photo should be visible behind your avatar. Adjust the Tolerance bar as needed to remove any green glow effect. Press the Play button in the preview Window to watch the movie.

14 - Change the selection box in the preview window from Draft Quality Auto to Best Quality Full. Next, open Project -> Settings and set the Filename to video1.avi. Click the button with three dots next to it to save the results on the Desktop, then press OK. Select File -> Save As and call the file output1.wxp and save it on the Desktop.

15 - Click Project -> Render to create the file. Wax will sometimes crash. If it does, start it up again and select File -> Open and choose the output1.wxp file. Then repeat the rendering procedure.

16 - Import video1.avi into Windows Movie Maker, then add a Two Line Title which says "Greenscreen Demonstration" on the first line and "by YOUR NAME" on the second line. Render the result as a wmv file called YOURNAME_demo.wmv. Either turn the resulting file in on a USB drive to the instructor or post the file to YouTube and email the instructor the YouTube URL.










		Basic Machinima in Second Life 1 - Download and install the free version of Fraps on your computer. Also, download Audacity. If you are using PortableApps, feel free to use the version of Audacity found there. If you have not used Audacity before you will need to configure the mp3 LAME encoder. 2 - Configure Audacity, Fraps and Second Life as mentioned in class, then, using a microphone headset, verify Audacity is working. Teleport to MNSCU Island in Second Life and talk through the area you wish to film before filming. When ready, start recording in Audacity, then start recording your screen in Second Life. Since you are using the free version, you will only be able to record 30 seconds of video per shot, so plan accordingly. Narrate a brief 30 second tour of part of MNSCU Island. Export the audio file in Audacity at voice1.mp3 and save to the Desktop. Fraps should have been configured to save the AVI file to the Desktop as well. 3 - Open Windows Movie Maker and import the AVI file from Fraps and the mp3 file from Audacity. Synchronize them as demonstrated in class. Add a 10 second title at the beginning of the clip. Use one of the “Title, Two Line” formats, putting “Second Life Demo” on the first line and “by REAL NAME and AVATAR NAME” on the second line. Next add a 20 second credit roll at the end of the film using the “Credits: Scrolled Up & Stacked” format. Include information discussed in class here. Render the result as a wmv file and name the file SL_YOURNAME.wmv. The entire movie should be 60 seconds long. 4 - Students may either turn in the wmv file in class on a USB drive or optionally, for extra credit, upload the wmv file to YouTube and send the YouTube URL to the instructors email account. Put “Handout #8 Homework” in the email subject line. Advanced Machinima in Second Life 5 - Login to second life and go to a place where you have build permissions. 6 - Create a cube with dimensions X=10m, Y=0.01m and Z=10.0m. Set the Texture to Blank and the Color to Green (the rgb values will be 0, 255, 0) Select the Full Bright checkbox. This is your backdrop wall. 7 - Create a copy of the cube, then set the X rotation of the copy to 90 degrees. Position the copy at the botom of the background wall as demonstratated in class. This is your backdrop floor. 8 - Have your avatar stand on the backdrop floor with his/her back to the backdrop wall. Use your Ctrl+Alt Mouse movements to view your avatars face with the green screen behind him. Have your avatar take up about a third of the screen. 9 - Open up My Inventory -> Gestures and find a gesture you like. Select Open for the Gesture and make sure the Active box is clicked. Set the Shortcut key to Ctrl + F2, then Preview and Save the Gesture. Repeat this procedure for 3 more gestures, using Ctrl + F3, F4 and F5 for the Gestures. 10 - Start Fraps, then set your Window size to 640 x 480. Turn off all menus, then begin filming in Fraps. Make sure you cursor is on the Second Life Titlebar and not on the main part of the screen. Press Ctrl + F2 to execute your first gesture, wait a few seconds then do the same for gestures 2, 3 and 4. Quit capturing with Fraps, then stop Second Life. View the resulting Second Life Avi file. 11 - Download and install Wax 2.0 if you haven't already. Also search google images for a 4x3 photo of a famous landmark in the real world. Save the image as landmark1.jpg. 12 - Start Wax and select Project -> Add Media Files. Select the AVI you generated in Step 6, then drap the film icon down to the first track. Select Project -> Add Media Files again and select landmark1.jpg. Drap this down to the second track, then drap the right edge to the right so that it is as long as the avi clip. 13 - In Wax, select Video Plugins, then drag ChromaKey to the first track. Expnd the chromakey button, then click the eyedropper tool. Clip any part of the green screen in the preview window. The landmark photo should be visible behind your avatar. Adjust the Tolerance bar as needed to remove any green glow effect. Press the Play button in the preview Window to watch the movie. 14 - Change the selection box in the preview window from Draft Quality Auto to Best Quality Full. Next, open Project -> Settings and set the Filename to video1.avi. Click the button with three dots next to it to save the results on the Desktop, then press OK. Select File -> Save As and call the file output1.wxp and save it on the Desktop. 15 - Click Project -> Render to create the file. Wax will sometimes crash. If it does, start it up again and select File -> Open and choose the output1.wxp file. Then repeat the rendering procedure. 16 - Import video1.avi into Windows Movie Maker, then add a Two Line Title which says "Greenscreen Demonstration" on the first line and "by YOUR NAME" on the second line. Render the result as a wmv file called YOURNAME_demo.wmv. Either turn the resulting file in on a USB drive to the instructor or post the file to YouTube and email the instructor the YouTube URL. BACK


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Basic Machinima in Second Life

Advanced Machinima in Second Life

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